Linux on dual processor query

Linux on dual processor query

[James Miller]

I've recently run across an older server for cheap and am thinking about 
acquiring it for cruel experimentation purposes (and if it works, maybe 
even doing something useful with it). It's a dual processor machine--HP, I 
think. P2 era. I'm wondering what's involved in setting up and running 
Linux on one of these beasties. First, I assume one must run a special 
kernel to take advantage of both processors, right? If so, SMP kernel? 
Second, does the kernel handle everything involved with distributing to 
the processors, or must one use specially-compiled programs on such a 
system as well? Feedback on this will be appreciated: still not sure if I 
want to tackle such a project.

Thanks, James
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Re: Linux on dual processor query

[hackmiester (Hunter Fuller)]

I believe I have a machine like yours - two chips, HP, PII era... I 
installed fedora 4 on it and yes my kernel does have 'smp' in it. It's 
pretty fast for a PII 400mHz so I suppose it is distributing to both 
procs. However, some programs do have to be compiled like that, like my 
eggdrop and IRCd.

-- 
--hackmiester
Walk a mile in my shoes and you will be a mile away in a new pair of shoes.



James Miller wrote:

> I've recently run across an older server for cheap and am thinking 
> about acquiring it for cruel experimentation purposes (and if it 
> works, maybe even doing something useful with it). It's a dual 
> processor machine--HP, I think. P2 era. I'm wondering what's involved 
> in setting up and running Linux on one of these beasties. First, I 
> assume one must run a special kernel to take advantage of both 
> processors, right? If so, SMP kernel? Second, does the kernel handle 
> everything involved with distributing to the processors, or must one 
> use specially-compiled programs on such a system as well? Feedback on 
> this will be appreciated: still not sure if I want to tackle such a 
> project.
>
> Thanks, James
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe 
> linux-newbie" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
> Please read the FAQ at http://www.linux-learn.org/faqs
>
>
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Re: Linux on dual processor query

[Dominique Sidiropoulos]

Generally the (smp-)kernel will do the right thing (TM) for you. In very 
very rare occasions you'll have to tinker a program to take advantage of 
the two processors. Installing and running a linux distro of recent 
vintage like Fedora or Novell/SuSE should be fearly easy. Fedora is a 
good option there. For any additional (Fedora) packages and programs you 
may have a look at freshrpms.net/rpmforge.net and related sites (I 
assume you've got a broandband connection there cause the updates are 
quite `demanding' in bandwidth). Hope this helps mate and good luck.

Cheers,
Dominick

P.S.: For extra performance boost you might want to add some extra RAM 
modules to the system. It usually helps a lot.

James Miller wrote:

> I've recently run across an older server for cheap and am thinking 
> about acquiring it for cruel experimentation purposes (and if it 
> works, maybe even doing something useful with it). It's a dual 
> processor machine--HP, I think. P2 era. I'm wondering what's involved 
> in setting up and running Linux on one of these beasties. First, I 
> assume one must run a special kernel to take advantage of both 
> processors, right? If so, SMP kernel? Second, does the kernel handle 
> everything involved with distributing to the processors, or must one 
> use specially-compiled programs on such a system as well? Feedback on 
> this will be appreciated: still not sure if I want to tackle such a 
> project.
>
> Thanks, James
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe 
> linux-newbie" in
> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
> Please read the FAQ at http://www.linux-learn.org/faqs
>
>

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